Bridges and tunnels—supported by prayer

John Daniels | from the Christian Science Sentinel

Major failures such as last year’s collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis and the fall of a concrete ceiling slab in a tunnel in Boston tend to send out shock waves of fear about the safety of such structures. They led a number of states to examine the condition of road and rail bridges, which didn’t always result in satisfactory findings. More recently, Amtrak announced the need to spend tens of millions of dollars to replace defective railroad ties in the Northeast Corridor, which links major cities on the US East Coast.

For the millions of people who travel on highways or railways around the world, these kinds of reports are anything but theoretical, especially if “their” bridge or tunnel happens to be the one that’s labeled dangerous. Some people deal with the threat of danger fatalistically: “If my time is up, it will collapse, and if it isn’t, I’ll get across (or through) it safely.” Others may grit their teeth until habit wears down the fear. I’d like to propose prayer as a way not only to remove fear but also to support those who are responsible for the care and upkeep of these structures.

Bridges and tunnels specifically represent a concept: the freedom to cross a barrier.

One approach I’ve found helpful is to recognize that beyond their material makeup, bridges and tunnels specifically represent a concept: the freedom to cross a barrier—a river or other divide—that would otherwise severely constrain our movement. Highways and railways also enable us to connect with others more readily. In essence, a nation’s infrastructure has a “uniting” function, providing ready access to the widespread good in our communities.

To see all these facets of transportation in this more spiritual light keeps us from focusing on structural conditions and helps us understand something of God. As Spirit, God’s intelligent presence can guide those who maintain and inspect those structures to be more alert and active in their care for them.

In the design stage, a bridge or tunnel is a purely mental construct, an idea waiting to be realized. As its design takes shape, both it and its intended environment are rigorously evaluated against the best available technical knowledge and experience, to ensure that the final product provides the highest possible level of public safety. In support of this design phase, our prayers can affirm the presence of divine wisdom, the one Mind, guiding every phase of a project. It’s also important to reject the belief that anyone’s personal interests or agendas can manipulate the decisions that are made about public roads and bridges; in the presence of God, selfish motivations are powerless.

Our prayers can look to God as divine Principle, the source of all law, to protect the integrity of the design and its execution.

Once a bridge or tunnel begins to take shape as a material structure, use of substandard materials, or other changes that degrade the structure’s integrity, may cloud the mental purity of the design through unwise efforts to cut costs. This adverse influence amounts to something that St. Paul long ago called “the carnal mind,” which involves thoughts that run counter to God’s law of order (see Rom. 8:5–7). Here, our prayers can look to God as divine Principle, the source of all law, to protect the integrity of the design and its execution. Under the direction of Principle, dishonesty, greed, or laziness can’t tempt someone to cut corners. Our prayer can ask that the love of God motivate all actions that affect the people who will use the road, bridge, or tunnel, and promote the alertness and wisdom to bring any hidden flaws to light.

Divine Love’s spiritual creation is perfect, useful, and good. Everything we need for our mobility and commerce naturally expresses these qualities. In prayer, we can gain confidence that Love eliminates fears that might be associated with a given project, whether it be fear that it will go over budget (a possible source of temptation to cut corners), that it will be a dangerous endeavor (fear of accidents), or that after a time it will become unsafe (fear of hidden deterioration). Love antidotes fear. As the Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18). It’s always reassuring to know God is a constant, ever-present help.

To view a road or bridge, a tunnel or railway, spiritually—as a symbol of God-given freedom, supported by the laws that emanate from Him—separates it from the carnal mind’s suggestions that God’s upholding power can be undermined or polluted and that the structure can deteriorate or collapse, causing harm to the very ones it is intended to serve.

Does this mean that the world’s bridges and tunnels will always remain as perfect as their designs have specified? No. But prayer in support of those who design, build, and maintain them will reveal ways to extend their useful lives, as well as protect us from harm as we use them.

John Daniels lives in Bellingham, Washington.